Ring - Koji Suzuki

Characters: 8.9/10
Plot: 9.1/10
Theme: 9.7/10
Atmosphere/Worldbuilding: 9/10
1000wnty Final Score: 9.2/10

Ring was a pleasant surprise due to its movie counterparts not delivering half as good a story. The pacing & storytelling kept me hooked, I was always wondering what would happen next & how our characters would proceed considering their impending doom.
Suzuki's writing was terrific, the language used in describing settings & feelings our characters were going through made it feel like I was there with them. Each characters' emotions were conveyed well so that they each stood out as unique individuals.
I enjoyed the writing of each character as well, especially Sadako. The journey we go on to learn of the tragedy behind her character is thrilling & always seemed to have another layer hidden no matter how close to the end of things I thought I was.
Explores the theme of mass media & spread of information very creatively with its supernatural elements. Also shows themes of family & a parents love for their children/family, which is seen in both the protagonist & antagonists motives of the book. Very well done.
The plot itself is great, & it's unrelenting until the very last pages. The only thing I somewhat had a problem with is what seemed like lazy writing? Why would the original four kids re-record over the tape? "It was a prank" is a largely unsatisfying answer. Why would the Doctor who assaulted Sadako & push her down the well straight up admit to it? With no repercussions or awareness? How did Awasaka know which page to go to in the book on Epidemics in the end? These points just seemed to be tied up vaguely, or without reason, only as means to continue the story even if it cost itself some coherency.